After arriving in China, you may want to explore the city, buy everything for your room and catch up on sleep at once. Start with the arrangements the rest of the week depends on: housing, registration, a working phone and a way to pay.
Use this guide alongside your university’s arrival instructions. Those instructions will have the addresses, procedures and opening hours for your campus.
Before flying: plan the journey from the airport
Save the campus address in Chinese, your residence hall’s name and the contact details of the person handling arrivals. A university may have several campuses. Give your driver the full address from the arrival instructions.
Check whether you can move in at your expected arrival time. If reception closes at night, arrange somewhere else to stay and include it in your budget.
Keep your passport, admission documents, insurance and the other required originals together. Save copies and contacts offline. Confirm room charges, deposits and what you need to bring with the accommodation office.
During the first days: registration and documents
After arrival, you need to register your accommodation and meet the requirements of your immigration status. Hotels normally handle accommodation registration for guests. Ask your university and the local authorities how it works for your residence hall or flat.
The international office can help you confirm:
- who handles accommodation registration and when it is due;
- whether you need a medical examination and where to go;
- which documents you need for a residence permit;
- which appointments must be booked in advance.
Students entering on X1 must apply for a residence permit within 30 days of entry. The X1 and X2 guide explains the distinction. Put your own deadlines in a calendar before classes begin.
Phone access, payments and some cash
Install WeChat and save the university’s contacts. Ask where official notices will appear: the student portal, email or a course group. Confirm decisions about your visa or scholarship with the responsible staff member.
Alipay and WeChat Pay support linking eligible overseas cards after identity verification. Available features depend on the card and service; transfers and some other transactions may require a Chinese bank account. Check your payment arrangement in advance and bring a physical card and a little cash for the first days.
Keep tickets, addresses and important files available offline. Some familiar websites and applications may be unavailable in mainland China. Agree on a way to keep in touch with people at home.
In your room: check the basics before unpacking
Photograph existing damage and report it to the accommodation staff. Find out how water and electricity are paid for, where to do laundry and whom to contact when something breaks.
Visitor policies, heating, hot water and permitted appliances depend on the building. Ask for your hall’s own instructions. If you share a room, talk about lights, alarms, cleaning and calls home. Having an initial conversation makes it easier to revisit these questions later.
Food and everyday conversations
At the canteen, check payment methods and opening hours. If you have an allergy, prepare a clear explanation in Chinese and ask staff about ingredients. A photograph can help when you cannot yet read a dish’s name.
You can show a word on your phone or type it into a translation tool. A Chinese handwriting keyboard is useful for unfamiliar characters on signs: draw the character with your finger and choose the closest match.
Tones can change an order too: 糖 (táng) means sugar, while 汤 (tāng) means soup. If someone does not understand, slow down, rephrase or show the word. You can still finish the conversation.
Carry tissues and hand sanitiser while exploring the neighbourhood. At crossings, look out for quiet electric bikes and turning vehicles. Take ordinary care of your passport, bank details and verification codes as you would on any trip.
The first teaching week: learn each course’s rules
One programme may rely heavily on projects and discussion; another may place more weight on an examination. Check the following for each course:
| Question | Where to keep the answer |
|---|---|
| How is the grade calculated, and when is work due? | your course calendar |
| How is attendance recorded, and how do you report an absence? | a note with your timetable |
| Where are assignments issued and submitted? | browser bookmarks |
| What are the citation and AI-use rules? | beside your first written assignment |
| How should you contact the lecturer? | your contact list |
If lectures are difficult to follow, choose a small task you can manage: read the topic beforehand, collect a few terms and ask about one unclear point afterwards. These notes will gradually become your own course glossary.
Make room for life outside class
Try a club, sport or language exchange that interests you. Repeated meetings give people time to get to know each other, especially while conversation in Chinese still takes effort.
You can enjoy your studies and miss home at the same time. Leave space for familiar food, rest and calls with people you know. If anxiety, insomnia or low mood interferes with everyday life, contact student support or a healthcare professional.
For the first days, a short plan is enough: move in, handle the next required documents, get connected and find your timetable. You can get to know the rest of the city gradually. The student budget guide can help you plan the expenses along the way.
